Rat guard for ships



July 6, 1954 w. M. MULLINS RAT GUARD FOR SHIPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 18. 1948 INVENTOR. H/EBNEQ, BEE/41.52, P1702254,

WALTER .114. MULLINS,

4952216 000 Chzpwsu. B Arroezvavs.

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July 6, 1954 w. M. MULLINS RAT GUARD FOR SHIPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 18, 1948 Z WW 5 m. E m u P P m w M E M 1512-2276 and Cam Eu TTWEYS.

Patented July 6, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,682,851 RAT GUARD non SHIPS Walter M. Mullins, Costa Mesa, Calif.

Application September 18, 1948, Serial No. 49,888

14 Claims.

The application refers to rat guards which are customarily used on mooring lines by which ships are moored to some shore installation.

Rats have been a common pest to shipping for a great many years, and it is common knowledge that rats are prone to board ships by running along the mooring lines and harboring themselves in the ship until the ship docks at some new port when the same rats will use the mooring line as a vehicle for going ashore. Rats picked up by ships in foreign lands are often carriers of disease to our shores and various means have been employed in the past for preventing the importation of these mammals. Rats are otherwise undesirable inhabitants of ships, and it is the desire at all times to keep ships as free from rats as possible.

Heretofore rat guards of a specific type have been almost universally used; These rat guards consist of a somewhat circular disc having a hole through the center approximately equal to the diameter of the mooring line, the disc being split so that it can be applied over the line. It has been necessary also to secure the disc in proper position some distance out from the ship to prevent rats from jumping from the line to some portion or other of the ship; -For anchoring the discs, they have been provided with projections extending laterally from thedisc in positions lying adjacent the. mooring line, a d common practice has fbeento tie the projections to the line. J, Although these discs-are particularly efiective in preventing rats from boarding ships when properly afiixed to the mooring line, the'difliculty arises when the discs are not'properly attached.

or perhaps not attached at all. Modern ships ride very high above the water, sometimes twenty or thirty feet. The discs to be effective must be anchored to the line some three feet or more from any projection on the ship. This means that a sailor must stretch out from the ship hanging twenty or thirty feet above the water and in the precarious position tie the disc in place. Because of the carlessness of sailors on occasions, the discs are not properly attached and slide down the mooring line to inefiective positions. Sometimes the discs are not attached far enough away from the ship to prevent rats from jumping from the line to the ship.

In addition to these defects, the same discs must be removed from the line when the ship is ready to sail in order that the line may be hauled aboard. To untie thedisc from the line presents the same difliculties as when the discs are aflixed to the line and very frequently the discs are damaged when the mooring line is hauled aboard.

It is, therefore, among the objects of the invention to provide a new andimproved rat guard for mooring lines, which is adapted to attach itself automatically to the line when dropped upon the line at any given distance from the ship and there anchor itself in place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved rat guard for mooring lines which can be readilylifted from its attached position on the line by merely drawing in upon a tie rope which extends from the rat guard to the ship.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved rat guard for mooring lines which includes a combined bafile and gravity actuated latch adapted to be adjusted to lines of different diameter.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved rat guard which is capable of remaining in its properly adjusted position'without being easily disturbed, which is easy to apply and remove, and which at the same time is simple in its structure, inexpensive in its manufacture and particularly effective in preventing rats of all sizes from running from one end of the line to the other.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the rat guard in position on a mooring line attached to a wharf.

Figure 2 is an end view of the rat guard drawn to a larger scale showing the position of the parts when the guard is attached to a line.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of that portion of the guard adjacent the mooring line taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of the device showing the device in extended position on a mooring line.

- Figure 6 is a side elevation-a1 view of the device in collapsed condition.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the device on the line 'l-'--'| of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 5.

In the embodiment chosen to illustrate the device, the rat guard is shown as comprising a housing adapted to ride upon the line in any position at which it may be attached, whether the line be substantially horizontal or whether it be tilted at a considerable angle. The housing is shown as one constructed in the form of a block or shield Ill-having high steeply slanting walls H and [2 terminating in a ridge or peak [3 at the top. A ring I4 extends through the block near the top to which may be attached a tie T0132.

[5 used when dropping the guard uponthe. line.

when it is attached and in pulling the guard back to the ship when it is removed? At the bottom of the block are skirts l6 and H, the top edges of which lie along the bottomsof the walls II and I2. These skirts are likewise designed to overlie the sides of a mooring line 18. The. front and rear of the block are disclosed. by vertical triangular walls [9.

An examination of Figure 2 will reveal. that the lower portion of the. block. adjacent thejunction of the block with the skirts forms. a tunnel 20, the roof of which comprises sheet metal members 2| and 22, so thatthe entire block. or housing. is closed in except for the tunnel formed by the skirts.

For holding the block or housing in. a. proper upright position on the line, there isprovided a counter-balance consisting in the. embodiment illustrated of a continuous rod having an upper horizontal portion 26v extending. transversely through the block at a location above the tunnel, the rod being permittedto swing freely upon the upper portion 26. Washers 27 may. be. affixed to the. rod to anchor it properly in place. The rod also includes downwardly extending portions 23 spaced some distance. laterally with respect to. the skirts and terminating. in. weight members 25} at the bottom.

For affixing. the housing, to the line, there is provided what may betermedla secondary shield here shown inthe form of a plate 30"whi'ch is adapted to extend transversely from one skirt to another approximately midway between the ends of the skirts. In this embodiment the skirts are provided with aligned slots 3| which are adapted to receive the plate. As readily apparent in the drawing, an upper edge 32 of the plate is provided with a recess 33 of one diameter adapted to fit the line H3 herein'ill'ustrated' and an oppositeedge 35" provided with a recess. 35' of larger diameter adapted to fit a mooring line of corresponding diameter;

For mounting the plate upon the block or more particularly, one of the skirts, there is provided a rod or shaft 5% which serves a multiple purpose. The rod or shaft includes a portion 37 which extends across the face or the plate 38 and is adaptedv to be secured within a pressedout portion 38 on the plate, sized to fit around it. A spring retaining washer 38' is attached to the end of the portion 31 and a spring 45. is retained under compression by the washer 39. t the. end. of the pressed-out portion 38 opposite from the spring there is provided a transverse slot indicated. generally by the reference character t2 which has an upper portion 42" and a lower portion 42". These portions have open righthand ends as viewed in Figures 2 and 3 and are merely slots cut out of the pressed-out portion 38. A pin 4| is set transversely in the portion 37 of the rod 36 at a location such that it can fall into either the portion 42 or the portion 42" of the slot. In Figures 2 and 3 the pin is held by action of the spring 40 in the upper of the two portions, namely, the portion 42. The plate 30, however, can be reversed by pushing it laterally so as to compress the spring M sufficient to let the pin 4| ride out of the portion 52 at which time the plate can be reversed until the pin is in a position to fall into the portion 4.2" wherein'itwill be retaihedbyaction of the spring 40;

The shaft 36 includes a second portion 53 lying normally parallel to the plate 30 and this portion 43 has. mounted thereon a cross-pin 44 which, in turn, is secured by brackets or bearings 65 to the-skirt Iii. The pin 44 is adapted to provide a pivotal mounting for the rod portion 43 upon the skirt so that the plate may be swung from the solid: line-position, shown in Figure 2, outwardly to the dot-and-dash line position thereshown and,,in.fact,, further outwardly,. in: order to. per mit the. housing. to be applied to and. removed from the mooring line. Inits outermost position also. theplate may. be. rotated about. the portion 31. end for endso that. either. the. recess 33. or the recess. 35. may be applied to a position adjoining the.line.,. At one end of the. plate,.there-. is pro.- videda slotAG adapted to. fit over the pin. 44. in one position of adjustment of. the. plate. Because of. the difierence in. diameter .of-. the. lines which the platejis. adapted to. fit,.the locationof the portion 31, of. the rod isnearerv the. recess 35 than the. recess. 33. which. necessitates the pro.- vision of the slot 46v in order. to. accommodate itself to. a proper position ofadjustment" Alsoon the rod 35. there .is provided, an extension 50 curved to improve. smoothness. of) operation, which extends. to. a. position part-way over the recess 33. or the=recess 35.should. that recess bein a position for. application. to the line. extension 55. isthemeans. for manipulating the plate so: that the. plate and. the. rodby which. it is. used may serve. as a. latch for, securing the housing to the line..

I-n operationtheline I8 is ordinarily extended. from. the ship to-a pile 5|. on a. wharf; 5.2. After the line. is; secured, the. rat. guard. is. mounted. in. position. Before it is applied, the. plate 3!] is tilted; outwardly to the. dot-and-dash line position, illustrated in: Figure. 2, which position the plate-will holdbecauseof. the. balance. of the. plate.

about the pin 44. The housing is then held above the lineatwhatever location. it. is desired to attach the housing... and then dropped upon. theline. The. weight. of. thehousing. pressing downwardly upon thepin 44 where it is pivotally connectedto-theroddil is sufficient. to assist inv tilting. the plate.v at from the dot-andedash line positionof- EigureZ to the solid position of Figure 2 when the line 3- presses upwardly against the extension 50. A-stherei indicated, the line l3 fitsv snugly between the extension 50 and. the. recess 33: and; the: weight ofthe apparatus holds it securely in place. Moreover, theplatea 30 will be firmly anchoredin proper-position: by reason of extending through the slots 3! in the skirts. In this position also theweights 29 will adjustthemselves'dependingon the slant of the line, and hold the block or' housing in upright" position at all times, thereby forming a baffie or shield against passage of rats along the line.

When it is desired to remove the housing from the, line, it is necessary. to do no more'than lift upon, the tierope I5 and by. thismeans the housing can be lifted from the line and pulled aboard the ship by means of the tie rope 15.

When it is desired to shift the position of the plate to accommodate a line of different diameter, it is necessary to do no more than tilt the plate to its outermost position outside of the slots 3|, then press the plate against turns of the spring until the pin 4| is lifted from the slot 42. After rotating the plate thus freed end for end, the spring 40 will press the pin 4| into the slot 42 in the other position of adjustment. In either position, the extension serves as the means of latching the housing to the line.

In a second form of the invention illustrated in Figures 5 through 8, inclusive, the essentials of a successful rat guard of the type herein disclosed are embodied in a guard so jointed that the baffle or shielding portion which prevents passage of the rats along the mooring line remains at all times in a substantially vertical position regardless of the tilt of the mooring line. As shown, there is provided a member having in general the form of a tunnel rovided by sides 6! and 62 and a ridge-like top 63 joining longitudinal edges of the sides. The remaining side or bottom of the member is open for reception of a mooring line 64. Cooperable with the tunnel member is a baflie 65 which in the embodiment shown has a somewhat rectangular form in that there are provided side elements 66 and 61 and a back 68 joining the side elements along one vertical edge of each. The back has a cut-out section 69 in order to permit the bafile to tilt freely with respect to the tunnel member 60.

For attaching the baffle to the tunnel member,

there is provided a somewhat U-shaped bracket 10 which engages beneath the top of the tunnel member, as best illustrated in Figure '7. The bracket includes arms H and 12 which extend through suitable apertures in the top to a position wherein the ends of the arms are adapted to be mounted upon a pivot pin 13. As shown, the pivot pin extends through the side elements 66 and 61 and is there properly-secured in place by utilization of washers 1,4 and 15 and cotterpins 16. By this arrangement the baffle is capable of being tilted freely with respect to "the tunnel member. In certain positions of tilt, however, a considerable space will'be opened between the back of the baflle and'the top of the tunnel mem her. To close this space there is provided a filler plate 11 anchored by welding or other appropriate means at its line of junction 18 with thetop of the tunnel member. The filler plate is made high enough so that it will at all times close any gap or space which mightappear between the back of the baffie and the tunnel member throughout. the entire range of tilt provided between the tunnel member and the bafile.

In order to latch or lock the device. to' the mooring line 64 a latch similar to that described in connection with Figures 1 through 4, inclusive, is utilized and operates in precisely the same manner.

In the second form of the device counterweights are also included for holding the device in correct position upon a mooring line regardless of the tilt of the line. In this instance a weighted rod member includes vertical rods *8l and 82 which are joined or bent in a somewhat U shape,

with a transverserod section 83 at the top extending from one vertical rod to the other. The rods 8| and 82 may extend above the tops of the side elements 66 and 61 when the rod member 80 is slid upward. To accommodate the vertical rods; the side elements and the bafiie may be provided with longitudinal recessed portions 84 and 85 in the side elements 66 and 61 respectively. These recessed portions are designed to accommodate a free sliding fit of the vertical rods therein. Plates 8! may be riveted as shown or welded over the recessed portions, if desired, to hold the rods in place or the plates may be secured by spot welding, if preferred. Weights 88 and 89 are located at the bottoms of the vertical rods to provide a suflicient counterweight. Constructed as shown the rod member 80 can be lowered to the position of Figure 5, in which position the transverse rod section 83 will contact the tops of the plates 81, thereby preventing the rod member from sliding off. When the rod member is slid up to the position of Figure 6 the weights strike the bottom of the side elements and the transverse rodsection can be used as a handle to lift' the device.

In operative positionthe counterweights are extended as illustrated in Figure 5. The tunnel member 60 overlies the mooring line and assumes the tilt of the line while at the same time the baflie 65 is tilted to a substantially vertical position by action of the counterweights regardless of the tilt of the line or the tunnel member 60. In this position the bafiie provides a highly effective shield against the passage of rats in either direction along the line. To pass the baflie the rats would have to climb smooth vertical walls where no claw hold is provided and which is sufficiently high so that no-rat could possibly jump the required distance.

Beneath the mooring line there is located the plate 30, previously described in connection with the first form of the invention, which is adapted by utilization of the extension '50 and transverse portion 31 to latch the device upon the mooring.

line. The plate 30 is free to tilt into and out of engaging positions with the mooring line at all usual angles of tilt of the tunnel member with respect to the bafile.

When devices made in accordance with the second former the invention are removed from the mooring lines, the weighted rod member 86 may be collapsed to the position shown in Figure 6/ This can be done by merely resting the counterweights 89 on some surface and permitting the weight of the guard to slide the baflie the tunnel down to the supporting surface. The same motion will return the tunnel member and the baifle'to the relative positions shown in-Figure 6. In collapsed position as there shown the devices may be readily stacked side by side on deck. Ordinarily tie ropes are used and these can most conveniently be fast'ened'upon the transverse rod section 83. The same transverse rod section also provides a convenient handle by means of which the devices may be manipulated.

While the invention herein shown and described is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

The invention having been herein described, what is claimed and sought to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A rat guard for a mooring line comprising a housing adapted to ride on the line, said housing comprising a shield adapted to be located above the line having a breadth not less than the diisi slsi ts hav n a sv s y ali ned sl ts red to the housred. hai -in n rti n pivota e m nt with t e plate, another po tion p t y usp ded i One o id ski and t ll a ther po ier. the ?!v x e din between t e skirts in a ee i o netentia e a em t W hthe line, ed e 9f; sa d. late a in a r c s spaced r m th la t. i ent ied orti n. of th d d adanted tQ t ene ize of l ne nd another e having a recess adapted to be spaced from the, ast identified rti n of the od and, to fit an- Ql 2.? of l ne Sa d 122 6 bein otatable on said re l o itiens rese tin ne r another of said ecesses 9 th line an lockin m ans for ock ng Said l te n on or no he of d pos me eqmpr ein ne element n t e plate and ane her e e o th rod said e ements have ng; alt rn ti e. osit ons of ng ement r p cively s i n Q1 ano hern iti n o the plat 2-. A rat ua d ameo i n omprisin a ade adapted o o erlie he line including lon itil l y x nd n sk r s dapted to extend along and below the line, and in us for anchor-v ng: he hem the ine ompris n a transv rs pla e sa dskir s havin lat adapted ,v ce ev he at aid, l te havin a. ivotal. mo ntin on a l nsitud-inalon e. o said, skirts and edg ada ted t unde lie theline an x ni n en he la e e er yi-n said: ed e a D951?- i n of rc ntial' ga ement with the ine, said extgn icn, bein space r m the ed e a distance substantially equal to the diameter of the line and adaptedtogether with said edge to confine t e i e erebe w enwhen the uard is rested prising @transversely disposed plate, said. skirts having slots adapted to. receive the second baffle,

said plate having a pivotal mounting on a longis tudinal axis on one of said skirts and an extensiOn on the second baflle at one edgelof the plate spaced from said edge a distance. substantially equaljtothediameter. of the line and adapted to gether with said edge to engage the line when the guard: is rested thereon, said plate having recessesof diiierent sizes respectively in said one edge and in. the edge opposite thereto and having a. reversible mounting on the extension, said plate having one position in the second bafile wherein one recess is at a position adjacent the extension and a second position wherein the otherrecess, is at a position adjacent the extension.

4; A rat guard formooring lines comprising a lineeengaging member adapted to rest on a line, a latch assembly comprising an extension and plate pivotally mounted onsaid line-engaging member, said extensionadapted to overlie the line and said: plate adapted to underlie the line in latched-position, a bafile pivotallymounted ong and below the line, and a second bafile adaptedto anchor the firstbaffle to the line coma.

the, lin en aging member on a horizontal axis extending transversely thereof, and a counterweight on and adapted to extend below the baffle.

5. A rat guard for mooring lines comprising a line-engaging member adapted to rest on a line having a top, sides and an open bottom, a latch assembly comprising an extension and plate pivotally mounted on said line-engaging mem-. ber, said extension adapted to. overlie the line and said plate adapted to underlie the line in latched position, a baflle pivotally mounted on the line-engaging member on a horizontal axis extending transversely thereof, and a counterweight eomprising weighted rod means slidably mounted on the baffle for limited movement between a retracted position and a position extend ed below the line-engaging member.

6. A rat guard for mooring lines comprising a line-engaging member adapted to rest on a line having a top, sides and an open bottom, a latch assembly comprising an extension and plate pivotally mounted on the line-engaging member, said extension adapted to overlie the line and said plate adapted to underlie the line in latched position, a bafiie pivotally mounted on the line-engaging member on a horizontal axis extending transversely thereof, said bafiie comprising side elements substantially parallel to the sides of said line-engaging member and a back joining the side elements, and a counterweight slidably mounted on the baflle for limited movement between a retracted position and a position extended below the line-engaging member.

'7. A rat guard for mooring lines comprising a line-engagingmember adapted to rest on a line having a top, side walls and an open bottom, a latch assembly comprising an extension and platepivotally mounted on one of said side walls, said extension adapted to overlie the lineand said plate adapted to underlie the line in latched posi tion, and a baiile pivotally mounted on the top of the line-engaging; member on a horizontal axis extending transversely thereof, said baflle comprising sideel'enients substantially parallel: tothe side Wallsof said line-engaging member, a back joining the side elements along one longitudinal edge ofeach, a counterweight comprising parallel rodmembers slidably mounted on the side elements for limited movement to extended and retracted positions having a weight on each rod member, and a filler plate on said line-engaging member adapted in relative tilted positions of said bafiie and said line-engaging member to close the gap therebetween.

8-. A rat guard for a mooring line comprising a housing having parallel side elementsextending above and below and on opposite sides of the line, said side elements being adapted to bepositioned immediately adjacent to the line, a connecting wall between opposite side elements at a location above the line and limited in width to the space between said side elements, a transverse shield element between said side elements at a location below the line andpivotally mounted on the housing formovement to and from a position underlying the line, said transverse shield element having a member thereon extending obliquely away from the. transverse shield element adapted for initial engagement with the line when the transverse shield element occupies a position removed from the line, said member being adapted to overlie the line when said. transversa shield element underlies the line,

and weight means on the lower part of the housing adapted to maintain the housing in erect position when on the line, a

9. A rat guard for a mooring line comprising a jointed housing havinga lower portion comprising flat parallel side elements adapted to be positioned immediately adjacent the sides of the. line .and an upper portion having fiat parallel side elements insubstantial alignment with the first identifiedside'elements', the upper :ends of the lower portion and the lower ends of the upper portion being adapted to overlap, a transverse pivot connection between said portions, a permanent wall between said side elements of the upper portion and a shield movably mounted upon and located between said side elements of the lower portion, said housing having a weighted element thereof at a location below the line greater than the weight of the housing above the line whereby the housing maintains an erect position when on the line.

10. A rat guard for a mooring line comprising a housing having upper and lower portions pivotally secured together, said lower portion being adapted to ride on the line, said upper portion comprising a rat shield adapted to be located above the line and skirts along the lower edges at each side adapted to overlie the sides of the line, a counter-balance for holding the shield erect comprising a portion thereof supported on the housing and weighted means terminating below the housing, a latch having a line-engaging portion adapted to lie across the line and a rotatable connection between the latch and the lower portion of the housing with the axis of said rotatable connection adapted to lie substantially parallel to the line, the connection being located on the latch at a point removed from the lineengaging portion, wherein when the guard is free to drop on the line the weight thereof applied to the connection urges the latch simultaneously against the line and rotationally about the connection to position of releasable engagement with the line.

11. A rat guard for a mooring line comprising a housing having upper and lower portions, said lower portion being adapted to ride on the line, said upper portion comprising a rat shield adapted to be located above the line and skirts along the lower edges at each side adapted to overlie the sides of the line, a counter-balance for holding the housing erect comprising a portion thereof swingably supported on one portion of the housing and weighted means terminating below the housing, a latch element mounted beneath the shield between the skirts, said latch element having a line-engaging portion adapted to lie across the line and a rotatable connection between the lower portion of the housing and thelatch element, the connection being located on the latch element at a point removed from the line-engaging portion and having the axis thereof adapted to lie parallel to the line, wherein when the guard is free to drop on the line the weight thereof applied to the connection urges the latch simultaneously against the line and rotationally about the connection to a position of releasable engagement with the line, and a secondary latch shield operably connected to said latch at a location adapted to underlie the line and cooperable with the line when the latch is in engagement with the line.

12. A rat guard for mooring lines comprising a housing having a breadth not substantially greater than the diameter of the line and adapt- 10 ed to ride on the line, said housing comprising a shield having a length and height exceeding the breadth thereof, skirts along the lower edges at each side adapted to overlie the sides of the line, a counter-balance for holding the shield erect comprising a portion swingably supported on the shield including weighted means terminating below the skirt, and a combined rat shield-and latch mounted at the lower portion of the shield between the skirts, said combined rat shield and latch having a line-engaging portion adapted to lie across the line and a rotatable connection between the lower portion of the housing and the combined rat shield and latch, the connection being located on the combined rat shield and latch at a point removed from the line-engaging portion and having the axis thereof adapted to lie parallel to the line wherein when the guard is free to drop on the line the weight thereof applied to the connection urges the combined rat shield and latch simultaneously against the line and rotationally about the connection to a position of releasable engagement with the line.

13. A rat guard for a mooring line comprising a housing adapted to ride on the line, said housing comprising a shield having a breadth not less than the diameter of the line, a length exceeding the breadth and a height exceeding the length, skirts along the lower edges at each side adapted to overlie the sides of the line, said skirts having transversely aligned slots therein, a gravity counter-balance adapted to hold the shield erect on the line comprising a rod pivotally mounted transversely in the housing above the position of contact of the housing with the line, weighted extensions on the rod adapted to have an operative location below the line, and a combined rat shield and latch mounted in said slots beneath the shield and between the skirts, said combined rat shield and latch having a line-engaging portion adapted to lie across the line and a rotatable connection between the lower portion of the housing and the combined rat shield and latch, the connection being located on the combined rat shield and latch at a point removed from the line-engaging portion, wherein when the guard is free to drop on the line the weight thereof applied to the connection urges the combined rat shield and latch simultaneously against the line and rotationally about the connection to a position of releasable engagement with the line.

14. A rat guard for a mooring line comprising a housing adapted to ride on the line, said housing comprising a shield adapted to be located above the line having a breadth not less than the diameter of a line, skirts along the lower edges at each side adapted to overlie the sides of the line, a counter-balance secured to the housing and extending below the housing for holding the housing erect and a combined secondary rat shield and latch mounted beneath the housing between the skirts, said combined secondary shield and latch comprising a plate extending transversely relative to the skirts, means for mounting the plate having one portion in pivotal engagement with the plate and another portion pivotally suspended on one of the skirts, and an extension on the combined secondary shield and latch adapted to extend between the skirts in a position of potential engagement with the line, one edge of said plate having a line engaging section spaced from the extension by substantially the diameter of the 11 12 line and adapted to fit one size of line and ananother'to the; I-inew-herein a corresponding eleother edge having a line engaging section adapte ment on the plate is. adapted to engage theeleed to be spaced from the extension and to fit ment on said one portion, another size of line, said plate being rotatable on said one portion for presenting either line 5 Re erences, Cited in the file of 171113 p e engaging section to the line and a temporary UNITED STATES A S detent means having elements thereof respeo- Number N D t tively on said one portion and on the plate on 13,76,202, Hart ame Apr 2' 1 opposite sides of said one portion, said plate bei 7 ing shiftable to positions presenting one edge or 10 5:23 a? 

